School Newsletter | July 2017 | Student name:_________________ Aspire Believe Achieve InIn thisthis issue….issue…. Sports News & Results Accelerated Reader Updates Duke of Edinburgh Awards Summer Ball PlusPlus muchmuch more...more... Lealands High School, Sundon Park, Luton, LU3 3AL Tel: 01582 611600 Fax: 01582 612227 Email: [email protected] www.lealands.luton.sch.uk @Lealandshighschool @LealandsHigh InIn ThisThis Issue….Issue…. Content Page Introduction from Headteacher Mr Burridge 3-4 Dates for your Diary 4 Value of the Month 5 School Notices 6-7 Sports News & Results 8-11 Bedfordshire and Luton School Games 12 Sky Sports Living For Sport Day 13 Student Voice 14-15 Duke of Edinburgh Award 16-17 Accelerated Reader Update 18-19 Year 8 Barclays Life Skills 20 My Work Experience At Bentley 21 Problem Solving Activities 22-23 Summer Ball 24-25 Year 11 Technology 26 Year 11 Leavers Assembly, Transition Day & Luton Foodbank 27 Year 11 GCSE Art Exhibition 28 Year 11 Prom 29 Uniform Exchange 30 Stay Safe in the Sun 31 2 Introduction from Headteacher Mr Burridge Dear Parent/Carer, As we come towards the end of the academic year there is lots to look back upon; successes and challenges. In March, Ofsted confirmed that the school continues to provide a good standard of education recognising our, ‘determination, commitment and integrity’ in doing so. Alongside many strengths that Ofsted recognised, they identified, with us, some key areas for improvement. The first of these has been to continue to strengthen the provision and outcomes for disadvantaged students by improving the effectiveness of work with parents. We believe that developing high aspirations and good attitudes to learning, with the help of their parents, will make a significant difference and this work is being built into our development plans. Ofsted identified inconsistency in the application of marking policies that we were already aware of and working on. Marking is generally still very strong in the school and provides students with helpful ongoing feedback to improve their work. However, as you are aware, we had a number of new staff join the school this year and we have been working hard to ensure that they are all meeting our expectations; including in marking. The report mentions inconsistencies in the quality of teaching in maths and science. This is linked to staff recruitment issues that we have had this year; particularly in these subject areas. You will be aware that there is a national recruitment crisis in teaching and it has affected Lealands this year. We have worked hard to replace teaching staff who have left or gone on maternity leave in a challenging environment for teacher recruitment. This has meant that there have been a few supply teachers in school, which has not been the ideal situation. Some parents have commented on this in their questionnaires this year and we fully accept that this has had an impact. In terms of recruitment for September, we feel that we are in a much stronger position and have recruited a number of experienced and very well qualified staff to maths and science to help address these issues. Overall, our internal monitoring shows that teaching remains strong with a further increase in the proportion of outstanding teaching across the school this year. However, our aim is that all teaching should be at least good and we will continue to do everything in our powers to ensure that the children in our care get the best teaching and support that we can provide in every lesson. We are looking forward to September and welcoming our new Year 7 students. We are, again, oversubscribed in Year 7 with a significant waiting list for places. September will see 3 Headteacher’sHeadteacher’s IntroductionIntroduction ~~ ContinuedContinued the school full for the first time since the refurbishment was completed in 2013. That has meant, alongside replacing staff who are leaving, we have been recruiting additional teachers for the final phase of expansion. Recently, our new staff have joined us for their induction days as they begin to join the Lealands family. In the final weeks of this academic year, we are looking forward to some significant events. Our Experience Day trips will take place, followed by us re-trying Sports Day (hopefully the weather forecast will be better this time!). We are also looking forward to the ‘Finale’ performances, although with some sadness, as these will be the last performances directed by Mrs Patterson, who, after 35 years at the School will be retiring with her husband, Mr Patterson. We wish them a long and very happy retirement which is very well deserved after so many years’ service at Lealands and other schools. We also wish other staff leaving at the end of this term, who are moving areas or pursuing other opportunities, the very best for the future. John Burridge Headteacher DatesDates ForFor YourYour DiaryDiary Experience Day - Wednesday 19th July 2017 Sports Day - Thursday 20th July 2017 End of Term - Friday 21st July 2017 at 12.30pm Staff Training Days- Friday 1st September and Monday 4th September 2017 Autumn Term Begins - Tuesday 5th September 2017 (Year 7 start at 8.40am. All other year groups should arrive at 11.25am) Term Dates Autumn Term Begins: Tuesday 5th September 2017 (Year 7 start at 8.40am. All other year groups should arrive at 11.25am) Half-Term: Monday 23rd October - Monday 30th October 2017 Autumn Term Ends: Wednesday 20th December 2017 Training Days: Friday 1st September 2017 and Monday 4th September 2017 Monday 30th October 2017, Wednesday 3rd January 2018, Monday 19th February 2018. The full term dates for the academic year 2017-2018 are available to download from our website www.lealands.luton.sch.uk/termdates 4 ValueValue ofof thethe MonthMonth 5 ££ ££ ££ OnlineOnline PaymentsPayments Don’t forget you can pay online using the ‘Parents’ Payment’ link which now appears as a £ sign on the slideshow of our website: www.lealands.luton.sch.uk. If you do not have your link code to login, please contact the school Finance Office on 01582 611600. The following is currently available for payment online: Voluntary Contributions Events, Trips and Visits Other Technology Years 7,8,9 Music Lessons Textiles Year 10 and 11 School Ties Resistant Materials Year 10 and 11 Food Contribution Year 10 The school also prefers for all school meals to be paid for online. This gives you the flexibility to top up your child’s account at home using a debit or credit card rather than having to use cash or cheque. Further details and an online payments instruction manual can be found on our website: www.lealands.luton.sch.uk under the ‘Parents’ Information’section. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please can we remind parents and carers that the school is unable to provide change to students for the catering cash terminals. Wherever possible, please can you ensure you provide your child with the correct change before they come to school. Ideally all payments should be made online and we discourage strongly students from bringing cash into school. PricePrice ChangeChange OfOf SchoolSchool TiesTies From September, the price to purchase a replacement tie from the Finance Office will increase to £6.00. This is to come in to line with the price charged by our uniform supplier, Prestige. School ties are now available to purchase on our online payments system. 6 MedicalMedical InformationInformation Coping With Hayfever Please ensure your child takes their medication before they come to school (e.g. antihistamines, eye drops, nasal sprays, etc). Spare medication may be left in the Medical Room for emergencies. All medicines held and dispensed by the medical room must be provided in their original packaging and must have a parent/carer’s written consent. Please ensure that your child has ample supplies of tissues. A little pot of Vaseline is also useful – your child can dab a little under his/her nose to provide a lubricating barrier to the constant irritation from blowing and rubbing. Keep Hydrated It is very important to ensure that we do not dehydrate. As well as keeping our bodies fit and healthy it will also help keep concentration levels higher and therefore improve performance at school. Can you please ensure that your son/daughter brings a bottle of water with them to school – this can be re- filled at the water fountain. Any fizzy drinks or energy drinks WILL BE CONFISCATED. Cups will not be available from the medical room and pupils will not be permitted to leave lessons to visit the medical room to get a drink. Asthma Inhalers Inhalers for the relief of asthma must be immediately available and pupils with asthma are encouraged to carry their inhaler with them at all times. It is also very important that the school is provided with a spare inhaler in case the pupil’s own inhaler runs out, is lost or forgotten. All inhalers must be labelled with the child’s name and should be left in the medical room in case of emergency. Many thanks, Miss A Maczugowska – Medical Officer 7 SportsSports NewsNews -- ResultsResults Football Luton Schools’ F.A. League Results 2016/2017 BOYS Age Group Division Winners Runners - Up Year 7 1 Lea Manor LEALANDS 2 Stockwood Park Academy Icknield Year 8 1 LEALANDS Chalk Hills Academy 2 Stopsley Lea Manor Year 9 1 Stopsley LEALANDS 2 Cardinal Newman Lea Manor Year 10 1 Stockwood Park Academy Cardinal Newman 2 LEALANDS Chalk Hills Academy Rounders Year 7 Won 25.5 - 14 11th May Lealands v Cardinal Newman Year 8 Won 16 - 8 Year 7 Won 18 - 5.5 13th June Lealands v Denbigh Year 8 Won 11.5